It is -15c & something considerably lower with windchill. I turned on my heating this morning & over night the duvet was good.
I am grateful for both those simple in Canadian terms, things.

2012 is here.
That number had me reflect on how long I’ve been here on the planet. Long.
I’m quite chomping at the bit to get on with a new body of work, on paper for this winter. Referencing the abstract paintings of the past few years, but inward towards smaller gesture, more measured action. And oddly the readable figure beyond text & marks may make an appearance.

I am newly excited about the cinema and movies(!), having seen & heard of a few which catch my fancy for future viewing. I saw Wim Wender’s ‘Pina’, about German choreographer Pina Bausch & came away excited & charged. Though I pondered & was troubled at the traditional romantic male-female pairings/gender roles which seem to be what this film shows of her dance, or is it  Wim Wender’s choice for the film, her most noted works?
As a much learned new friend said briefly in an email;  “in the movie, it seemed she mostly choreographed duets that were sort of romantic/seductive. Very little of her wry sense of humour, the radical use of language, etc. ... I think she completely deconstructed the romantic (in) Cafe Mueller.”

I would have loved the wry humour & radical use of language! But still, as a pretty much Pina newbie, I was swept away by the camera work, even the 3D-ness of it, which is astonishing as 3D generally means to me, a technology in process, and a story-line that needs the attention of special effects. 3D-Pina was utterly different from that.
As far as I’m concerned we need more stage work turned into film. It’s a powerful tool to extend & serve acts of dance among others. Of course give me good seats to live dance any day!

Superb choreography, the interesting provocative sets(dirt, water, a cafe scene full of chairs & tables), strong individualistic dancers, the costume colours which I turned a painter’s eye to (took issue as a feminist with the long ball gowns she saddled her female dancers with, but believe those to be part of her critique? To be much researched.

I love dance for so many reasons; the combination of the inherently visual, the power of music & theater along with the strength, grace & action of the human body; costumes, sets, locus, story, married to artistic choice/ideas/politics & the emotional presence of excellent dancers...

I came away well-fed. Turned on & ready to confront my own art output. That strikes me as a great way to start a new year, even if they usually start in September... let’s call this Part B.

I repotted a gift plant today too & intend for it to live on, despite my less than green thumb.